Intravenous bag and line label

ABSTRACT

A label for use with an intravenous bag having a surface and an interior volume for holding a solution in fluid communication with an intravenous line for dispensing the solution, where the label includes a back layer including an adhesive for securing the label to a surface of the intravenous bag, a front layer with a solution name including a first portion secured to the back layer, the front layer including a second portion removable from the back layer engageable with the intravenous line with the solution name on a first side and a second side. In some constructions, the solution name on the second side is inverted with respect to the solution name on the first side, and the second portion further includes an opening for viewing a portion of the intravenous line when the second portion is engaged with the intravenous line.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a system for ensuring accuracy ofprinted labels for intravenous bags and for intravenous lines engagedwith the intravenous bags.

In the healthcare industry, solutions, such as diluent solutions, suchas saline solutions or dextrose solutions, or solutions includingpharmaceutical compounds, such as compounded drugs, may be administeredto a patient intravenously. A solution to be administered intravenouslyis packaged within an intravenous bag and dispensed to the patientthrough an intravenous line engaged with the intravenous bag.

Intravenous bags are typically labeled with information identifying aname of the solution, for example a name of the diluent or a name of thepharmaceutical compound in the solution. Color-coded labels, color-codedrisk indicators, and TALLman letters are often used to assist healthcareprofessionals in quickly and accurately identifying the solutiondispensed from each of the intravenous bags.

A patient may be simultaneously treated with multipleintravenously-delivered solutions. Each solution is delivered from anintravenous bag through a dedicated intravenous line. The intravenouslines engaged with the intravenous bags are often also labeled with thename of the solution to avoid confusion between lines from differentbags, for example when changing intravenous bags or inspectingintravenous lines. However, the intravenous line labels are typicallyprovided separately from the intravenous bag labels, which could lead tomislabeling of the intravenous line. Furthermore, the intravenous linelabel may block the labeled portion of the intravenous line, preventinga healthcare provider from noticing air bubbles, discoloration,blockages, or other abnormalities present in the labeled portion of theintravenous line.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a labeling system that reduces thelikelihood of label printing errors and mismatched intravenous bag andintravenous line labels. The labeling system of the present disclosureprovides a label in which a bag label portion and a line label portionare printed onto a shared backing. The bag label portion is fixed to theshared backing and the line label portion is removably attached to theshared backing, enabling the line label to be removed from the liner andsecured to an intravenous bag as a single unit. The removableintravenous line label may also include an opening that allowsvisualization of the labeled portion of the intravenous line. Thisopening enables a healthcare provider to inspect the labeled intravenousline at the point of attachment of the line label for air bubbles,discoloration, blockages, or other issues in the fluid flowing throughthe labeled portion of the intravenous line.

In one construction, the disclosure provides a label for use with anintravenous bag having a surface and an interior volume for holding asolution. The intravenous bag is in fluid communication with anintravenous line for dispensing the solution. The label includes a backlayer including an adhesive for securing the label to a surface of theintravenous bag. The label further includes a front layer including afirst portion secured to the back layer and including a solution name.The front label in turn includes a second portion removable from theback layer and engageable with the intravenous line. The second portionincludes the solution name on a first side and a second side. Thesolution name on the second side is inverted with respect to thesolution name on the first side. The second portion may also include anopening for viewing a portion of the intravenous line when the secondportion is engaged with the intravenous line. In another construction,the solution name on the second side is not inverted with respect to thesolution name on the first side.

In another construction, the disclosure provides an intravenous solutiondelivery system including an intravenous bag having a surface and aninterior volume adapted to receive a solution. The intravenous solutiondelivery system also includes an intravenous line engaged with theintravenous bag for dispensing the solution. The intravenous solutiondelivery system further includes a label attached to the intravenousbag. The label includes a back layer having an adhesive for securing thelabel to a surface of the intravenous bag. The label further includes afront layer including a first portion secured to the back layer andincluding a solution name. The front layer further includes a secondportion removable from the back layer and engageable with theintravenous line. The second portion includes the solution name on afirst side and a second side. The solution name on the second side isinverted with respect to the solution name on the first side. The secondportion may also include an opening for viewing a portion of theintravenous line when the second portion is engaged with the intravenousline. In another construction, the solution name on the second side isnot inverted with respect to the solution name on the first side.

In another construction, the disclosure provides a method of labeling anintravenous line engaged with an intravenous bag including a surface anddefining an interior volume for receiving a solution. The methodincludes providing a label including a back layer including an adhesivefor securing the label to a surface of the intravenous bag a front layerincluding a first portion secured to the back layer and including asolution name. The front layer further includes a second portionremovable from the back layer and engageable with the intravenous line.The second portion has the solution name on a first side and a secondside. The solution name on the second side is inverted with respect tothe solution name on the first side. The second portion may also includean opening for viewing a portion of the intravenous line when the secondportion is engaged with the intravenous line. The method furtherincludes engaging the label with the surface of the intravenous bag;detaching the second portion of the label from the first portion of thelabel; aligning the opening of the second portion along the intravenousline; and folding the second portion about the intravenous line tosecure the second side to the first side so that the first side and thesecond side display the name of the solution.

In another construction, the disclosure provides a method of printing anintravenous bag label for use with an intravenous bag engageable with anintravenous line. The method includes selecting a solution name from asolution information database stored in a memory of a label printer. Inresponse to selecting the solution name, the method further includesretrieving printing instructions from the solution information database.The printing instructions include a type of a roll of labels upon whichto print the solution name. The method further includes aligning theroll of labels with a printing member of the label printer. The roll oflabels includes a backing sheet having a machine-readable labelincluding a type of the roll of labels. The method further includesscanning the machine-readable label on the roll of labels to confirm thetype of the roll of labels. The method further includes printing atleast one label of the roll of labels according to the printinginstructions.

Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intravenous bag labeling systemengaged with an intravenous bag.

FIG. 2 is a view of a portion of a roll of intravenous bag labels thatincludes the intravenous bag labels of FIG. 1 before printing accordingto one construction.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the intravenous bag label of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a line label portion of the intravenous baglabel of FIG. 2 according to one construction.

FIG. 5 is a detail view of a line label portion of the intravenous baglabel of FIG. 2 according to another construction.

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a line label portion the intravenous baglabel of FIG. 2 according to another construction.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an intravenous line portion of theintravenous bag label of FIG. 2 aligned with an intravenous line.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an intravenous line portion of theintravenous bag label of FIG. 2 engaged with an intravenous line.

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a printing machine for printingthe intravenous bag label of FIG. 2 according to some constructions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any constructions of the disclosure are explained in detail, itis to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thefollowing drawings. The disclosure is capable of other constructions andof being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In anydisclosed construction, the term “approximately” may be substituted with“within a percentage of” what is specified, wherein the percentageincludes 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 percent.

FIG. 1 illustrates an intravenous bag 10 that includes an intravenousbag label 14, a hanger hole 18, an internal volume 22, a medication port26, and an intravenous line port 30. The intravenous bag label 14includes a bag label 34 and a line label 38. In the illustratedconstruction, the intravenous bag label 14 is mounted on a front face 42of the intravenous bag 10. A similar or identical label may be attachedto the back face (not shown) of the intravenous bag 10. The hanger hole18 is positioned proximate a top of the intravenous bag 10 for mountingthe intravenous bag 10 on an intravenous bag pole (not shown). Theinternal volume 22 receives a solution for administration to a patient.The medication port 26 is positioned proximate a bottom of theintravenous bag 10. The medication port 26 allows a healthcare providerto add medication to the solution inside the internal volume 22. Theintravenous line port 30 is positioned proximate the bottom of theintravenous bag 10. The intravenous line port 30 receives an intravenousline 46 for administering the solution to the patient.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bag label 34 may include an upper portion50 and a lower portion 54. The upper portion 50 of the bag label 34and/or the intravenous line label 38 may be color-coded to assist a userin identifying the solution stored in the intravenous bag 10. The upperportion 50 may also include information such as a name 58 of thesolution, a total dose of the solution, or a concentration of thesolution, and a total volume of the solution. The lower portion 54 mayinclude a risk indicator 62 to alert a user to a risk characteristic ofthe drug, such as the “high alert” indicator 62 shown positioned beneaththe upper portion 50 in FIG. 1. The label lower portion 54 may alsoinclude identifying information such as a lot number of the solution, apackaging date of the solution, and an expiration date of the solution.The lower portion 54 may also include a machine-readable label 66 thatincludes identifying information about the solution stored in theintravenous bag 10. Exemplary identifying information may include thename 58 of the solution, the dose or the composition of the solution,the total volume of the solution, the lot number of the solution, theexpiration date of the solution, and/or the packing date of thesolution. In the construction illustrated in FIG. 1, themachine-readable label 66 is a barcode. In other constructions, themachine-readable label 66 may be an RFID tag embedded in the intravenousbag label 14. In some constructions, the intravenous bag label 14 may bemade from a material that may be written-upon by a user.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the bag label 34 is attached to a carriersheet 70. The carrier sheet 70 is affixed to the front face 42 of theintravenous bag 10 with an adhesive (not shown) that ensures that thecarrier sheet 70 cannot easily be removed from the intravenous bag 10(FIG. 1). The carrier sheet 70 is longer than the bag label 34. Sincethe carrier sheet 70 is longer than the bag label 34, a portion 74 ofthe carrier sheet 70 extends beyond an end 78 of the bag label 34. Theline label 38 may be attached to the portion 74 of the carrier sheet 70that extends beyond the end 78 of the bag label 34. The line label 38may be removed from the portion 74 of the carrier sheet 70 withoutdisturbing the bag label 34 when the intravenous bag labeling system 14is secured to the intravenous bag 10. In the illustrated construction,the bag label 34 and the line label 38 may be separated by a slit 82.The line label 38 may include a marking 106 (FIGS. 4-5) proximate theslit 82 to encourage a user to remove the line label 38 from the baglabel 34. In other constructions, the bag label 34 and the line label 38are separated by a perforated line. To facilitate removal of the linelabel 38, in some constructions, at least some of the portion 74 of thecarrier sheet 70 that extends beyond the end 78 of the bag label 34 mayinclude a non-stick coating. In some constructions, the entire portion74 includes a non-stick coating.

As is best shown in FIGS. 4-6, the line label 38 includes a firstportion 90 and a second portion 94. The name 58 of the solution storedin the internal volume 22 of the intravenous bag 10 is printed on thefront of the first portion 90 and the front of the second portion 94. Inthe construction illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the name 58 printed onthe second portion 94 is inverted with respect to the name 58 printed onthe first portion 90. The name 58 of the solution is therefore readableby a user from above or below the line label 38 when the line label 38is engaged with the intravenous line 46. In some constructions, such asshown in FIG. 6, the name 58 printed on the second portion 94 is notinverted with respect to the name 58 printed on the first portion 90. Atleast a portion of the back of the first portion 90 or the back of thesecond portion 94 of the line label 38 includes an adhesive (not shown).When the line label 38 is secured to the intravenous line 46 (FIG. 8),the adhesive secures the back of the first portion 90 to the back of thesecond portion 94. A portion of the adhesive may engage the intravenousline 46 to reduce slipping of the line label 38 along the intravenousline 46. As is best shown in FIGS. 4-8, the removable line label 38 hasrounded corners 98 to reduce possible patient discomfort should thelabel rub against a patient when the line label 38 is engaged with theintravenous line 46. In the illustrated construction, the roundedcorners 98 of the line label 38 are formed by die-cutting. In someconstructions, a central axis 110 of the opening 102 shown with a line114 positioned to assist a user in aligning the line label 38 with theintravenous line 46. The line label 38 may be removed from theintravenous line 46. For example, a healthcare practitioner may tear theline label 38 off of the intravenous line 46 after the patient hasstopped being treated with the solution in the intravenous bag 10.

In some constructions, such as the constructions of FIGS. 4 and 6-8, theline label 38 may include an opening 102. The opening 102 preferably hasa width 108 longer than a circumference of the intravenous line 46. Theintravenous line 46 is therefore visible when the line label 38 isengaged with the intravenous line 46. The opening 102 allows the user tocheck for air bubbles, discoloration, or any other abnormalities in theintravenous line 46 while the line label 38 is engaged with theintravenous line 46. As shown in FIG. 4, the opening 102 may besubstantially centered along the line label 38. In other constructions,the opening 102 may be off-center along the line label 38. In theillustrated construction, the opening 102 is formed by die-cutting.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the unitary construction of the intravenousbag label 14 enables the line label 38 to be printed at the same time asthe bag label 34 is printed, which reduces the likelihood that theintravenous line 46 could be mislabeled. In constructions in which theintravenous bag label 14 is printed using a label printing machine 126,intravenous bag labels 14 that have not yet been printed with thesolution name 58 may be provided on a backing sheet 118. The backingsheet 118 may be rolled into a spool of unprinted intravenous bag labels14. The intravenous bag labels 14 may include color coding on the upperportion 50, the lower portion 54, and/or the risk indicator 62 printedon the lower portion 54. The backing sheet 118 of each roll may includea machine-readable label 122 (FIG. 2) that includes data about any colorcoding or indicia pre-printed on the intravenous bag labels 14. In theillustrated construction, the machine-readable label 122 is generallyperpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the backing sheet 118 andoffset from a center of a width of the backing sheet 118. In theillustrated construction, the machine-readable label 122 is printed on afront side (e.g. the side including the intravenous bag labels 14) ofthe backing sheet 118. In other constructions, the machine-readablelabel may be printed on a back side of the backing sheet 118. In theillustrated construction, the machine-readable label 122 is a barcodeincluding a roll stock number of the roll of intravenous bag labels 14.The rolls of intravenous bag labels 14 may be used with the labelprinting machine 126.

With reference to FIG. 9, the label printing machine 126 includes acontrol system 130, a user interface 134, a label reader 138, and aprinter 142. In some constructions, the control system 130 is includedthe label printing machine 126. In other constructions, the controlsystem may be included in a computing device that is in electroniccommunication with the label printing machine. The control system 130includes a processor 146 and a memory 150. The memory 150 includes asolution information database 154. The solution information database 154includes information that must be printed on the intravenous bag labels14 for each solution that could be stored in and dispensed from theintravenous bag 10. For example, the solution information database 154may include information such as the name 58 of the drug or solution, thedose or the composition of the solution, the total volume of thesolution, the expiration date of the solution, the lot number of thesolution, and any other information required by labelling standards. Thesolution information database 154 may also include label printinginstructions that may specify a specific color code or risk indicator 62that must be included on the intravenous bag labels 14. In theillustrated construction, the label printing machine 126 is adapted toreceive preprinted rolls of intravenous bag labels 14 that include colorcoding and alert indicia. The label printing machine 126 may alsoreceive rolls of intravenous bag labels 14 that are not pre-printed withcolor coding or risk indicators 62.

In operation, a user verifies the solution name 58 for printing onto theintravenous bag label 14 or to print onto multiple intravenous baglabels 14. The user enters the solution name 58 into user interface 134of the label printing machine 126, for example by scanning amachine—readable label including the solution name 58 and the barcoderoll stock number 14 with the label reader 138 of the label printingmachine 126. In response to receiving the solution name 58, the controlsystem 130 retrieves the information that must be printed onto theintravenous bag label 14 from the solution information database 154. Thelabel reader 138 then reads the machine-readable label 122 printed onthe backing sheet 118 to ensure that the correct roll of intravenous baglabels 14 has been aligned with the printer 142. The machine-readablelabel 122 may also be scanned with a manual label reader (not shown) anda user may manually verify that the correct roll of intravenous baglabels 14 is being used. The printer 142 then prints the druginformation onto the intravenous bag labels 14. In some constructions,the label reader 138 periodically checks the machine-readable label 122printed on the backing sheet 118 to verify that the correct roll ofintravenous bag labels 14 is being is used. Since the bag label 34 andthe line label 38 are formed of a unitary intravenous bag label 14, boththe bag label 34 and the line label 38 are printed at the same time.Accordingly, both the bag label 34 and the line label 38 include thename 58 of the same solution. In some constructions, the bag label 34and the line label 38 may include other identifying information aboutthe solution.

In operation, the intravenous bag label 14 is removed from the backingsheet 118 (e.g. on a spool or on a sheet of labels) as a single unit.The intravenous bag label 14 is then secured to the face 42 of theintravenous bag 10. In some constructions, the intravenous bag 10 hasbeen filled with the same solution name as the solution name 58 printedon the intravenous bag label 14. In other constructions, the intravenousbag 10 will be filled with the same solution as the solution name 58printed on the intravenous bag label 14. The internal volume 22 is thenfilled with the intravenous bag 10 with the solution that is printed onthe intravenous bag label 14. The filled and labeled intravenous bag 10is bagged for transportation to an end user, such as a healthcareworker. In some constructions, a second intravenous line label 14 may besecured to the intravenous bag 10, for example at a face on an oppositeside of the intravenous bag 10 than the face 45.

When the intravenous bag 10 is deployed by a healthcare worker for usewith a patient, the healthcare worker secures an end of intravenous line46 to the intravenous bag 10. The healthcare worker then detaches theline label 38 from the bag label 34 by peeling the line label 38 awayfrom the carrier sheet 70 along the slit 82. The healthcare worker thenaligns the central axis 110 of the line label 38 with the intravenousline 46 as is shown in FIG. 7. In constructions in which two intravenousline labels 14 are secured to the intravenous bag 10, the healthcareworker may position one of the intravenous bag labels 14 on a portion ofthe intravenous line 46 that is proximate the intravenous bag 10 and oneof the intravenous bag labels 14 on a portion of the intravenous line 46that is (or will be) proximate the patient. The healthcare worker thenfolds the line label 38 about the intravenous line 46 so that theadhesive secures the back surface of the first portion 90 to the backsurface of the second portion 94 to secure the line label 38 to theintravenous line 46. When the line label 38 is secured to theintravenous line 46, the line label 38 displays the name 58 of thesolution on the intravenous line 46. In constructions having the opening102, the healthcare worker may inspect the intravenous line 46 throughthe opening 102. In constructions in which the intravenous bag label 14is made by a material that may be written upon, the healthcare workermay write upon on the intravenous bag label 14. For example, thehealthcare worker may write a date and a time at which the intravenoustreatment started upon the intravenous bag label 14.

Various features and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in thefollowing claims.

1.-12. (canceled)
 13. A method of labeling an intravenous line engagedwith an intravenous bag including a surface and defining an interiorvolume for receiving a solution, the method comprising: providing alabel including: a back layer including an adhesive for securing thelabel to a surface of the intravenous bag; and a front layer including:a first portion secured to the back layer and including a solution name,and a second portion removable from the back layer and engageable withthe intravenous line, the second portion including the solution name ona first side and a second side, the solution name on the second sideinverted with respect to the solution name on the first side, and anopening for viewing a portion of the intravenous line when the secondportion is engaged with the intravenous line. engaging the label withthe surface of the intravenous bag; detaching the second portion of thelabel from the first portion of the label; aligning the opening of thesecond portion along the intravenous line; and folding the secondportion about the intravenous line to secure the second side to thefirst side so that the first side and the second side display the nameof the solution.
 14. The label of claim 13, further comprising the stepof viewing a portion of the intravenous line through the opening whenthe second portion is positioned along the intravenous line.
 15. Amethod of printing an intravenous bag label for use with an intravenousbag engageable with an intravenous line comprising: selecting with auser interface a solution name from a solution information databasestored in a memory a control system; responsive to selecting thesolution name, retrieving printing instructions from the solutioninformation database, the printing instructions including theidentification of a type of a roll of labels upon which to print thesolution name and selecting the identified roll; aligning the selectedroll of labels with a printing member of the label printer, the roll oflabels including a backing sheet having a machine-readable labelidentifying the type of the selected roll of labels; scanning themachine-readable label on the roll of labels to confirm the type of theroll of labels; and printing at least one label of the roll of labelsaccording to the printing instructions.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the at least one label on the roll of labels includes: a backlayer including an adhesive for securing the label to a surface of theintravenous bag; and a front layer including: a first portion secured tothe back layer and including a solution name, and a second portionremovable from the back layer and engageable with the intravenous line,the second portion including the solution name on a first side and asecond side, the solution name on the second side inverted with respectto the solution name on the first side, and an opening for viewing aportion of the intravenous line when the second portion is engaged withthe intravenous line
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the type oflabels includes a color-coded upper portion.
 18. The method of claim 15,wherein the type of labels includes a risk indicator.
 19. The methodclaim 15, wherein the machine-readable label is off-center with respectto a backing of the roll of labels and generally parallel to alongitudinal extent of the backing.